The Constitution created a stronger government than the Articles of Confederation by establishing a federal government with three separate branches—executive, legislative, and judicial—that provided a system of checks and balances. Unlike the Articles, which only had a weak legislative branch appointed by state legislatures, the Constitution gave Congress the power to tax, regulate interstate commerce, and enforce federal laws across all states. It also allowed the federal government to maintain a military and pay debts reliably. Moreover, the Constitution was designed as a living document that could be amended and adapted as the nation grew, whereas the Articles were rigid and required unanimous consent for any changes, making reforms nearly impossible. The Constitution's supremacy clause made federal laws the supreme law of the land, ensuring national unity over state individualism under the Articles. These changes addressed the weaknesses of the Articles, which had created a loose confederation of states with very limited federal authority, especially in taxation, law enforcement, and military power.
